More than 600 motorists in Dorset faced a criminal prosecution last year after being shopped by other drivers.

Dorset Police received 1,472 submissions through its Operation Snap programme in 2022.

Launched by the force in summer 2019, the road safety campaign involves drivers submitting dashcam footage showing potential traffic offences.

The submissions are assessed by police and in more than a third of cases have led to action being taken by officers.

The force’s lead for Operation Snap said any additional offences prosecuted in this way are seen as a success.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo through a Freedom of Information Act submission revealed how many reports were made through Operation Snap, how many prosecutions were initiated from these reports and how many out of court resolutions were made.

The number of Operation Snap submissions has increased year on year, with 250 in 2019, 647 in 2020, 947 in 2021 and 1,473 last year.

Dorset Police confirmed last year that the force issued 630 notices of intended prosecution to motorists from the reports received. This was up from 362 in 2021.

In addition, there were 122 out of court resolutions, such as warning notices and cautions, in 2022.

Victoria Kennedy, who leads Dorset Police’s Operation Snap, told the Daily Echo: “Operation Snap allows us to respond to motoring offences that may otherwise have gone undetected. When the public submit footage of dangerous driving we are able to take action, making Dorset’s roads safer.

“Footage provided to us opens up opportunities to increase protection of all road users.

“Operation Snap has proven to be an excellent enforcement tool in many areas of the country, and we consider any additional motoring offences that can be prosecuted as a result of a submission through Operation Snap, a success.

“The force views every piece of footage submitted and proceeds to prosecute where offences meet evidential charging standards.”

Anyone who submits footage under Operation Snap must be able to provide the registration number of the vehicle alleged to have committed motoring offences. They should also be prepared to sign a witness statement and there is a possibility that they will need to give evidence in court, police said.

The initiative is not for footage of crashes or any other offences.

Dorset Police’s Operation Snap submission portal can be found at operationsnap.dorset.police.uk